Skip to main content
Log in

Influence of magnetic resonance imaging on somatosensory and brain-stem auditory evoked potentials in man

  • Original Investigations
  • Published:
Journal of Neurology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

There is still a need to prove that even static magnetic fields up to 1.5 T used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are biologically safe and harmless for humans. Recordings of median and ulnar nerves and brain-stem auditory evoked potentials in 20 patients were completed prior to and after MRI investigation of the central nervous system. Neither the somatosensory nor the auditory evoked potentials exhibited any significant change of latencies, interpeak latencies or amplitudes. Since these electrophysiological parameters are highly dependent on the quality of nerve conduction and integrity of information processing in various nuclei, it may be assumed that MRI causes no lasting changes in either respect.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Adair ER, Berglund LG (1986) On the thermoregulatory consequences of NMR imaging. Magn Reson Imaging 4:321–333

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bartels M, Mann K, Matejek M, Puttkammer M, Schroth G (1986) Magnetresonanztomographie und Sicherheit. ROFO 145:383–385

    Google Scholar 

  3. Besson J, Foreman EI, Eastwood LM, Smith FW, Ashcroft GW (1984) Cognitive evaluation following NMR imaging of the brain. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 47:314–316

    Google Scholar 

  4. Budinger TF (1981) Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in vivo studies. Known thresholds for health effects. J comput Assist Tomogr 5:800–811

    Google Scholar 

  5. Budinger TF, Lauterbur PC (1984) Nuclear magnetic resonance. Technology for medical studies. Science 226:288–298

    Google Scholar 

  6. Buettner UW, Stöhr M, Koletzki E (1983) Brainstem auditory evoked potential abnormalities in vascular malformations of the posterior fossa. J Neurol 229:247–254

    Google Scholar 

  7. Bundesgesundheitsamt (1984) Empfehlungen zur Vermeidung gesundheitlicher Risiken verursacht durch magnetische und hochfrequente elektromagnetische Felder bei der NMR-Tomographie und In-vivo-NMR-Spektroskopie. Bundesgesundheitsblatt 27:92–96

    Google Scholar 

  8. Hacke W, Stöhr M, Diener HCW, Buettner U (1985) Empfehlung zur Untersuchungsmethodik evozierter Potentiale in der Routinediagnostik. Z EEG-EMG 16:162–164

    Google Scholar 

  9. Klitzing L von (1986) Latenzverschiebungen der frühen akustisch evozierten Potentiale beim Menschen durch statische Magnetfelder. In: Nüsslin F, Windhausen H (eds) NMR in der Medizin. Urban and Schwarzenberg, Munich, pp 199–210

    Google Scholar 

  10. McRobbie D, Foster MA (1984) Thresholds for biological effects of time-varying magnetic fields. Clin Phys Physiol Meas 5:67–78

    Google Scholar 

  11. National Radiological Protection Board Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Clinical Imaging (1983) Revised guedance on acceptable limits of exposure during nuclear magnetic resonance clinical imaging. Br J Radiol 56:974–977

    Google Scholar 

  12. Sperber D, Oldenbourg R, Dransfeld K (1984) Magnetic field induced temperature change in mice. Naturwissenschaften 71:100–101

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Niemann, G., Schroth, G., Klose, U. et al. Influence of magnetic resonance imaging on somatosensory and brain-stem auditory evoked potentials in man. J Neurol 235, 462–465 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00314248

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00314248

Key words

Navigation